Even in the ’80s, Orange Juice offered some needed punch

Sweet nectar. Bands named after fruits are plentiful in rock history with Raspberries, (Wild) Cherry, (Mighty) Lemon (Drops), Strawbery (Alarm Clock) among many. When it comes to oranges, there is Agent Orange, but probably the most descriptive is Orange Juice. Besides being rich in Vitamin C, Orange Juice also gave us the delightful sugary Rip It Up.

From the non-tropical land of Scotland, Orange Juice formed in 1979 and in 1983 had a U.K. Top 40 hit with Rip It Up. Orange Juice was led by the handsome young Edwyn Collins and the video alternates between a futuristic lab with a Dr. Who'ish portal the leads to the streets. Orange Juice has a little fun with the city folks drawing stares while dressing in Hawaiian shirts and scuba diving equipment.

After breaking up in 1985, Collins would go have his moment in the sun when in 1995 when A Girl Like You was a Top 40 hit on the U.S. Pop Charts and a Top 10 Modern Rock Track. A cerebral hemorrhage in 2005 nearly took his life, but Collins is back performing.

Our '80s historian Kevin Wuench goes to the Deep South today with his music lesson: Like your AOR with a touch of Texas/Louisiana blues swamp? Then you should try some Mason Ruffner with his sweltering Gypsy Blood.Mason Ruffner grew up in Texas ...

Pat DiNizio, the lead singer/guitarist for '80s power rockers The Smithereens, passed away Tuesday, the band announced overnight. He was 62."It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pat DiNizio, lead singer and songwriter of the influ...

Our Stuck in the '80s historian Kevin Wuench returns with this report on Steve Winwood: Pop music has enjoyed all sorts of duets between husband and wife. Some that come to mind are Sonny and Cher, James Taylor and Carly Simon and lest we forget...

The holidays are almost here, and as a proud fan of the '80s, you no doubt want to represent the decade in your gift-giving again this year. But how many A Christmas Story leg lamp ornaments can you really give out? Here are some fresh ideas to ...

Have you seen the first full trailer for Ready Player One? Here it is. It debuted Sunday, and a million '80s nerds all cried out in joy. Like the book by Ernest Cline, it just dazzles. It looks like Steven Spielberg is back in top form again. (Sorry,...

Today, columnist Kevin Wuench sets the record straight on Tommy Tutone:Without any argument, 867-5309/Jenny is perhaps the one of the most iconic and beloved songs of the '80s. Most have never heard any other song by Tommy Tutone, so for those who ar...

I did it again. On the most recent episode of Stuck in the '80s, I made a quick and unplanned comment about Time Bandits, and I've been bum-rushed by the '80s intelligentsia, demanding I retract any negative feelings toward the 1981 flick. Stop the e...

You gotta give it up for REO Speedwagon and Styx. Once fierce rivals in the late '70s and early '80s, they're practically bosom buddies nowadays. The two Illinois-born bands have joined forces for tours (and live DVDs) through the years, and the...

Here's today's history lesson from Lost and Found columnist Kevin Wuench:While I love all '80s music, I have a sweet spot for early '80s AOR and I've been a little neglectful of that genre lately, so for the next few weeks we'll set aside the hipster...

Our favorite '80s historian Kevin Wuench returns with a song inspired by an Agatha Christie novel:As one of the few non-comic book movies to win at the box office, Murder On The Orient Express has drawn mixed reviews by people I know who have seen it...

Relive the '80s music, movies and culture with Tampa Bay Times correspondent Steve Spears. A teen during the greatest decade ever, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to big hair.